Cyprien Halle
Founder of darwin
Paris, Île-de-France
Overview
Work Experience
Co-Founder & CPO
2024 - Current
As CPO and co-founder, I lead product development for a VC-backed B2B SaaS transforming how companies approach biodiversity challenges. Key responsibilities: - Defining product vision and roadmap - Identifying and prioritizing client needs - Designing features and technical specifications - Managing development cycles with the tech team - Building partnerships with consulting firms Our solution enables sustainability experts to automate the entire nature strategy development process: data collection, assessment of impacts on the 5 biodiversity pressures, modeling of dependencies on ecosystem services, scenario simulation, and regulatory reporting.
Investment Manager
2020 - 2024
Focused on early-stage B2B SaaS investments across Europe as part of a €160M pan-European VC fund specializing in network-effect businesses. Key responsibilities: - Led deal sourcing, due diligence, and investment analysis for B2B SaaS and climate tech startups - Built and maintained relationships with founders - Managed portfolio performance tracking and supported founders post-investment - Developed proprietary investment frameworks for evaluating early-stage businesses - Spearheaded internal InvestmentOps and DataOps initiatives to optimize fund operations Notable investments included Carbon Maps (sustainability analytics platform), Matera, Fintecture, BigBlue, Karmen, Allisone, and Totem. Developed expertise in: - B2B SaaS business models and growth strategies - Climate tech market dynamics and investment opportunities - Network effects and scalability evaluation - Product-led growth strategies - Operational excellence for tech startups
Strategy Consultant
2018 - 2020
Delivered strategic advisory and due diligence for corporate clients and private equity investors across multiple sectors, with a focus on data-driven decision making and sustainability transformations. Key projects: - Deployment strategy for the second vintage of a Sovereign Deeptech Fund, including investment thesis and sector prioritization - Electrification strategy for a global construction machinery manufacturer, analyzing market opportunities, technological roadmap, and competitive positioning - Multiple strategic due diligences and commercial assessments for M&A transactions Industries covered: - Energy and sustainability - Pharmaceuticals and life sciences - Data & Analytics - Manufacturing and industrial tech - Luxury goods and consumer sectors Developed expertise in: - Market sizing and growth modeling - Competitive landscape analysis - Technology adoption forecasting - Strategic positioning - Commercial due diligence methodologies
Strategy Consultant
2015 - 2016
Designed and implemented corporate strategies for energy and pharmaceutical companies, focusing on operational efficiency, market entry, and sales performance. Key projects: - Analysis and design of a restructuring plan for a major German energy company, resulting in restored 3% forecasted growth and optimized production mix - Go-to-market strategy for an international pharmaceutical firm launching a new treatment across Europe (France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Northern Europe) - Facilitated mobilization workshops for a French industrial company to enhance sales efficiency, resulting in 10% sales improvement and successful adoption of new sales tools among 200+ salespeople Developed expertise in: - Corporate restructuring - International market entry strategy - Sales force effectiveness - Change management - Cross-functional project leadership
Software Engineer
2014 - 2015
Developed an innovative infotainment solution for the automotive industry within Parrot's automotive division, working from concept to showcase-ready product. Key achievements: - Designed and built "Parrot Simple Box," a next-generation car infotainment system (car radio 2.0) that was showcased at CES Las Vegas - Collaborated with an international engineering team to deliver and maintain working prototypes - Implemented cross-platform functionality across multiple operating systems and frameworks - Developed user-centered interfaces focused on enhancing driver experience Technologies: - Android framework (Java) - iOS framework (Objective-C) - Linux scripting (bash) - Git version control - Parrot proprietary firmware (Android fork) This experience provided foundational expertise in product development lifecycles, from conceptualization through prototype development to public presentation of technical innovations.
Co-founder and CPTO
2014 - 2015
Built a social game encouraging time away from mobile phones. Led product development from concept to launch, designed user experience, and managed technical implementation. Key skills developed: mobile app development, startup operations, user-centered design, and product management.
Chorister & Soloist
2000 - 2006
Choriste Opera National de Paris 2000 - 2006 · 6 yrs Paris, France Performed internationally as a chorister and soloist in major opera productions at prestigious venues including Opéra Bastille, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, and Opéra Comique. Select performances: - Carmen (Bizet) - Opéra de Paris, Festival de Baalbeck (Lebanon) - La Flûte Enchantée (Mozart) - Multiple French opera houses and Rhine Festival - Marco Polo et la princesse de Chine (Aboulker) - Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai operas - Various works by Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Janacek, and others Additional performances: - Mozart's Requiem, Bach's Mass in B, Vivaldi's Gloria in D - Recorded Benjamin Britten's "Le petit Ramoneur" (CD) and soundtrack for "Obscure" video game This unique experience cultivated exceptional teamwork skills, performance under pressure, attention to detail, and cross-cultural collaboration.